Joshua
Chapter3
1Earlythenextmorning,JoshuamovedwithalltheIsraelitesfromShittimtotheJordan,wheretheylodgedbeforecrossingover.
若苏厄清早起来，同所有的以色列子民由史廷出发，来到了约但河，住在那里，等候过河。
2Threedayslatertheofficerswentthroughthecamp
过了三天，官长走遍全营，
3andissuedtheseinstructionstothepeople:＂WhenyouseethearkofthecovenantoftheLORD,yourGod,whichtheleviticalpriestswillcarry,youmustalsobreakcampandfollowit,
吩咐百姓说：＂你们一看见上主你们天主的约柜，和抬约柜的肋未人，你们便由你们所住的地方起身，跟着它走，
4thatyoumayknowthewaytotake,foryouhavenotgoneoverthisroadbefore.Butlettherebeaspaceoftwothousandcubitsbetweenyouandtheark.Donotcomenearertoit.＂
好使你们知道你们应走的路，因为这条路你们从来没有走过。但在你们与约柜之间，应相隔二千肘，不可走近约柜。＂
5Joshuaalsosaidtothepeople,＂Sanctifyyourselves,fortomorrowtheLORDwillperformwondersamongyou.＂
若苏厄对百姓说：＂你们应该自洁，因为上主明天要在你们中间行神迹。
6Andhedirectedtheprieststotakeupthearkofthecovenantandgoonaheadofthepeople;andtheydidso.
若苏厄又吩咐司祭说：＂你们抬起约柜，在百姓前过河。＂他们遂抬起约柜，走在百姓前面。
7ThentheLORDsaidtoJoshua,＂TodayIwillbegintoexaltyouinthesightofallIsrael,thattheymayknowIamwithyou,asIwaswithMoses.
上主对若苏厄说：＂今天我要开始在众以色列眼前显扬你，使他们知道，我要与你同在，有如我过去我与梅瑟同在一样。
8NowcommandthepriestscarryingthearkofthecovenanttocometoahaltintheJordanwhentheyreachtheedgeofthewaters.＂
你吩咐抬约柜的司祭说：＂你们一到约但河的水边，就停在约但河边。＂
9SoJoshuasaidtotheIsraelites,＂ComehereandlistentothewordsoftheLORD,yourGod.＂
若苏厄又吩咐以色列子民说：＂你们前来静听上主你们天主的话。＂
10Hecontinued:＂ThisishowyouwillknowthatthereisalivingGodinyourmidst,whoatyourapproachwilldispossesstheCanaanites,Hittites,Hivites,Perizzites,Girgashites,AmoritesandJebusites.
若苏厄遂说：＂你们由此可知道，永生的天主是在你们中间，衪必由你们面前，将客纳罕人、赫特人、希威人、培黎齐人、基尔加士人、阿摩黎人和耶步斯人赶走。
11ThearkofthecovenantoftheLORDofthewholeearthwillprecedeyouintotheJordan.
看，大地主宰的约柜要在你们前面渡过约但河。
12(Nowchoosetwelvemen,onefromeachofthetribesofIsrael.)
现在，你们应从以色列支派中，挑选十二人，每支派一人。
13WhenthesolesofthefeetofthepriestscarryingthearkoftheLORD,theLordofthewholeearth,touchthewateroftheJordan,itwillceasetoflow;forthewaterflowingdownfromupstreamwillhaltinasolidbank.＂
当抬大地的主宰上主约柜的司祭的脚掌，一踏入约但河的水，约但河的水就必中断，由上流下的水要停，像一道堤。
14ThepeoplestrucktheirtentstocrosstheJordan,withthepriestscarryingthearkofthecovenantaheadofthem.
当百姓起程离开帐幕要过约但河时，司祭抬着约柜，走在百姓的前面。
151NosoonerhadthesepriestlybearersofthearkwadedintothewatersattheedgeoftheJordan,whichoverflowsallitsbanksduringtheentireseasonoftheharvest,
当抬约柜的司祭到了约但河，他们的脚一踏入水边，──原来约但河在整个收割期间，水常涨至河岸──
162thanthewatersflowingfromupstreamhalted,backingupinasolidmassforaverygreatdistanceindeed,fromAdam,acityinthedirectionofZarethan;whilethoseflowingdownstreamtowardtheSaltSeaoftheArabahdisappearedentirely.ThusthepeoplecrossedoveroppositeJericho.
水就停住了：由上流下的水像一道堤，停在很远的地方，远至匝尔堂附近的阿当城；往下流入阿辣巴海，即盐海的水，已全退去；于是百姓在耶里哥对面过了河。
17WhileallIsraelcrossedoverondryground,thepriestscarryingthearkofthecovenantoftheLORDremainedmotionlessondrygroundinthebedoftheJordanuntilthewholenationhadcompletedthepassage.
当全以色列人在旱地上渡过时，抬上主约柜的司祭稳立在约但河中的旱地上，直到全民众都渡过约但河。
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Footnotes(注解)
1[15]Seasonoftheharvest:towardtheendofMarchandthebeginningofApril,whenthegrainandothercropsthatgrewduringtherainyseasonofwinterwerereaped.Thecrossingtookplace＂onthetenthdayofthefirstmonth＂oftheHebrewyear,whichbeganwiththefirstnewmoonafterthespringequinox;cfJoshua4:19.AtthistimeoftheyeartheJordanwouldbeswollenasaresultofthewinterrainsandthemeltingsnowofMountHermon.
2[16]Thesuddendammingoftherivercouldhavebeencausedbyalandslide,ashashappenedonotheroccasions.ThemiraculouscharacterofthiseventwouldnottherebyberemovedbecauseGod,whoforetoldit(Joshua3:13),alsocausedittotakeplaceatpreciselytherightmoment(Joshua3:15),whetherornotheusednaturalforcestoaccomplishhiswill.